Your Favorite Guitar memory

[Naboz]

I, too, have many special memories with playing acoustic guitar.
I'll share:
My wife and I had finally squeezed out the resources (time and money) for a honeymoon--almost a full year after our marriage--and Mom looked after our toddler daughter.
We went camping on the Bruce Peninsula in Canada; beautiful spot with our tent about 50 yards from a picture perfect lake--no motorized craft allowed. During our first evening there, it was sizing up for a beautiful sunset, so we went down to the lake edge, me toting my Yamaha FG335II. I had been working on something--an instrumental--and started playing around with the melody and chords.
It all came together in this bliss of my beautiful wife and this setting ("Sunset at Cedar Lake")! As I was doing this a few other campers had also been walking to take in the sunset; some sat down unobtrusively nearby. There was a guy drift paddling by in a canoe, also for a view of the sunset, directly in front of us out about 30 yards; color is at its peak, me playing, loon in the distance, guy in canoe silhouetted now as the lake glows in colors...
and as I finish a round of my tune, the canoe guy boldly declares,
"This is awesome!"
I smiled, put the guitar in its case; drop the mic'--doesn't get any more memorable

[rmp]

Sitting about 40 feet away from the stage when Julian Bream did his last US tour. This guy brought me to tears. I could not believe how good he was.

[bufflehead]

Kayak camping in Baja where our group had three travel guitars and a couple ukuleles, all of which fit into drybags and could be strapped to the top of the aft hatch. Mine was a Washburn Rover that sounded awful in the city but great in wilderness.

Nothing better than a jam at sunset on a beach in Baja.

[Bridgepin]

I'd have to say as a youngster when I played and sang a song all the way through with no mistakes for the first time.

That moment put a lot of wind in my sails to wanting to continue.

[Misifus]

I met a girl and asked her out. We went to a club, Mississippi Whiskers, in Nashville, and we saw Lennt Breau. The next weekend, I took her out to Percy Warner Park and I played and sang for her. That was 43 years ago, and we’re still together.

[gr81dorn]

The time I got to play this....no big deal ;-)

[Ozzy the dog]

October 1998. Saw Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt at Earl's Court on the Saturday night. Next day I dragged my wife to the Acoustic guitar Centre to try some 'nice' guitars. I had been reading about Lowdens but had never had the chance to try one.

My sons were young and spending more than a couple of hundred pounds on a guitar was an extravagance so playing a top end model was all I could hope for.

The lowdens were fantastic and everything I had read about appeared to be true. I tried Martins, Taylors etc, etc before my wife asked which one I liked best.

"The Lowden was the best." I said.

She took out her card and bought it for me.

One of my favourite weekends.

[MHC]

Originally Posted by Bridgepin

I'd have to say as a youngster when I played and sang a song all the way through with no mistakes for the first time.

That moment put a lot of wind in my sails to wanting to continue.

That’s a wonderful memory that I think many of us can share. I definitely remember the first time I played and sang a whole song with no mistakes, but I was no youngster.

Thanks!

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Ozzy the dog

October 1998. Saw Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt at Earl's Court on the Saturday night. Next day I dragged my wife to the Acoustic guitar Centre to try some 'nice' guitars. I had been reading about Lowdens but had never had the chance to try one.

My sons were young and spending more than a couple of hundred pounds on a guitar was an extravagance so playing a top end model was all I could hope for.

The lowdens were fantastic and everything I had read about appeared to be true. I tried Martins, Taylors etc, etc before my wife asked which one I liked best.

"The Lowden was the best." I said.

She took out her card and bought it for me.

One of my favourite weekends.

Hi Ozzy, I guess you are talking about "The Acoustic Centre" behind the Bass Centre in Wapping ?

That's where they assembled every 12 fret dread they could find for me, and where I bought my first Collings. Great shop, sadly long gone.

[Ozzy the dog]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Hi Ozzy, I guess you are talking about "The Acoustic Centre" behind the Bass Centre in Wapping ?

That's where they assembled every 12 fret dread they could find for me, and where I bought my first Collings. Great shop, sadly long gone.

Yes that's the one. It was a great shop and I spent a very enjoyable afternoon there. Unfortunately, at 250 miles it was a bit too far to call local and the next time I was down there it had closed. I could have spent a small fortune in there (if I'd had it of course).

[jaymarsch]

My favorite memory of hearing someone else play a guitar is when I was in a songwriting workshop with Janis Ian. She played and sang At Seventeen standing about 2 feet away from me - unplugged on one of her Santa Cruz Signature parlor guitars. That was a treat.

My favorite guitar memory from my own playing would have to be the first time that I played and sang a song in front of a group without my hands shaking. That was memorable!!

Best,
Jayne

[Beakybird]

Originally Posted by jaymarsch

My favorite memory of hearing someone else play a guitar is when I was in a songwriting workshop with Janis Ian. She played and sang At Seventeen standing about 2 feet away from me - unplugged on one of her Santa Cruz Signature parlor guitars. That was a treat.

My favorite guitar memory from my own playing would have to be the first time that I played and sang a song in front of a group without my hands shaking. That was memorable!!

Best,
Jayne

Thanks, Jayne!
Been there with those shaky hands.

[Jeremy]

My favorite is from high school when I finally acquired the Ovation I had been wanting for the longest time. I worked at Burger King for a summer and saved my money for it. I wish I still had that guitar...

[packmule]

Mine would be the day I bought my first guitar, which was an old Epiphone Coronet electric from the pawn shop. I was 11 years old and had sold my bicycle to get the money for it. I kept opening the case up to stare at it, and left the case propped open when I went to sleep that night so that the first thing I'd see when I woke up was the guitar.

[51 Relic]

For me three occasions come to mind seeing the Hellicasters live for the first time at the London Guitar Show and holding Hank Marvins original Fender Strat .
But the best of the best was playing a solo fingerstyle version of Wonderful Tonight for my Daughters and Son in Laws first dance at her wedding
Priceless